A new preventive measure for Orthodox journalists to be determined by court

Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv. Photo: advokat-ua.info
On May 8, 2024, the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv will consider the prosecution's motion regarding the precautionary measure for Orthodox journalists Valeriy Stupnitsky, Andriy Ovcharenko, and Volodymyr Bobechko, as reported by the UOJ correspondent.
The two months spent in a pre-trial detention center by the journalists, starting from their arrest on March 12, 2024, are set to expire on May 9.
During the hearing, the court is expected to decide on a new preventive measure. SBU investigators propose extending the detention of Orthodox journalists for another 2 months without the option of bail.
As reported by the UOJ, on the same day, a court hearing will be held regarding the case of Archpriest Serhiy Chertylin.
On April 8, a court session was held for the appellate appeal of the precautionary measure for Valeriy Stupnitsky, who is in custody. On April 9, the court considered the appellate complaint regarding Andriy Ovcharenko. The court dismissed both appeals to change the measure of restraint for the UOJ journalists.
Earlier, following the detention of UOJ journalists and human rights defenders by the SBU, an open appeal was sent by the Union of Orthodox Journalists to international human rights organizations.
Read also
Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms
Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.
432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says
According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.
Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations
The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.
Concert held at seized Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU thanked the musical ensemble for choosing the Cherkasy cathedral as the venue for a Baroque music concert.
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.